Configurable headgear

ABSTRACT

Headgear having a headpiece formed to cover a wearer&#39;s head, and an appendage attached to the headpiece, to which at least one attachment piece is captively secured. The headgear has a curtain with multiple appendages bearing multiple attachment pieces. A tail piece can be interposed between the headpiece and the appendage, and attached to the headpiece, to the appendage, or to both. The tail piece may be unitary or subportioned, and may include constituent ribbons, threads, strings, or strands. The headpiece and the tailpiece may be made of one panel of material or multiple panels, which may be different material. The appendage is a ribbon, thread, string, or strand. An attachment piece is captively secured to an appendage which, in turn, are attached to the headpiece or to the tail piece. An attachment piece can be a bead, a bangle, a trinket, or a feather.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to an article of clothing. More particularly, the present invention pertains to headwear.

BACKGROUND

A skullcap is a small, brimless, close-fitting element of clothing worn on the head, and is one of the oldest known head coverings found in use throughout the world. Such head coverings can provide physical protection from natural elements, including heat, cold, dust, rain, and insects. In addition, despite its simplicity, a skullcap may be stylized to convey symbolic information about the wearer. Although many implementations of skullcaps exist, an enduring and popular style can be a simple piece of cloth tied at the back, used to cover the head. Some variants of this style are formed merely to cover the head, while others may protect a portion of the wearer's neck and upper back, for example, by including a unitary projection of material over the regions to be protected. However, such skullcap projections may not provide sufficient ventilation to the wearer, reducing the comfort afforded by the headgear. Also, it may be difficult for a user to maintain a consistently tight and secure fit around the head with this type of skullcap during prolonged use. In addition, configurability and appearance of many skullcap-type headpieces are limited to indicia or graphical illustrations, which may be printed, embossed, screened, appliqued, or otherwise applied to the material of which the headpiece is made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with embodiments herein, there is described an article of clothing including a base having a foredge, a tie attached to a portion of the base, and a flap attached to the base generally opposite the foredge and having a flexible pendent. The flap may be releasably attached to the base. The flexible pendent can include at least one captive ornament. The captive ornament can be a bead, a bangle, a trinket, or a feather. A plurality of flexible pendents can form a flexible pendent curtain, with each of the plurality of flexible pendents including a plurality of captive ornaments. Selected captive ornaments may be visually different from each other, and may be selectively arranged to form a display.

In accordance with other embodiments, there is described an article of headwear having a cap segment with a shape that substantially covers a user's head. The cap segment can have a front and a back, and the article of headwear also can have a tail in communication with the back of the cap segment. The tail, being configured to cover a portion of the user's neck, can include one or more strips. A plurality of attachment pieces can be secured to a strip, having a strip length. At least one of the cap segment and the tail is made of a material selected from the group of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, plastic, and leather. The cap segment and the tail can be formed from one or more panels of material. When two or more panels are used, the respective panel materials may be different. An attachment piece can be a bead, a bangle, a trinket, or a feather. A plurality of attachment pieces can be secured to the plurality of strips, selectively, or substantially, over the respective strip length. Attachment pieces of different types may be selectively strung relative to attachment pieces of other types and, where one type of attachment piece is a bead, at least one of a trinket or a bangle or a feather are strung selectively relative to the bead.

In accordance with yet other embodiments, there is described headgear having a headpiece and a curtain. The headpiece has a front and a back, and is shaped to substantially cover a head. The curtain can be releasably attached to the back of the headpiece, and can include a plurality of flexible strands, with each having a respective strand length. A strand may be releasable. A plurality of attachment pieces can be secured to selected ones of the plurality of flexible strands. A tail piece can be releasably interposed between the headpiece and the curtain. One or both of the headpiece and tail piece can be made of a material selected from the group of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, plastic, and leather. The attachment pieces can be selectively secured to the plurality of flexible strands. Where the attachment pieces are beads, the beads can be strung selectively over the respective strand length.

In accordance with still other embodiments, there is described a skullcap, including an anterior headpiece portion, at least one thread, and at least one captive ornament secured to the thread. The skullcap can have a front and back, and the thread can be attached to the back of the anterior headpiece portion. A plurality of threads can be attached to the back of the anterior headpiece portion, with a plurality of captive ornaments selectively secured to the plurality of threads. An ornament train can be formed by selectively securing a plurality of captive ornaments to a thread, and an ornament curtain can be formed from a plurality of ornament trains. A tail flap can be attached between the anterior headpiece portion and the ornament curtain, and may include a plurality of ribbons to which respective ornament trains of the ornament curtain are secured.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not by limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a graphical illustration in perspective view of an embodiment of a headpiece, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a graphical illustration in rear view of another embodiment of the headpiece depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a graphical illustration in rear view of the embodiment of the headpiece depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a graphical illustration in side view of another embodiment of a headpiece, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a graphical illustration in side view of yet another embodiment of a headpiece, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a graphical illustration in top view of embodiments of a headpiece, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, or 5; and

FIG. 7 is a graphical illustration in top view of embodiments of a headpiece, as depicted in FIG. 2.

Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments described herein provide a skullcap, or a headpiece, which is an article of clothing to be worn on the head, which may be close-fitting, comfortable, and stylish. While the headpiece may be fit snugly on a portion of the wearer's head, such fit may be adjustable to suit the wearer's comfort and preferences. As used herein, the term headpiece will be used to describe skullcap embodiments including, without limitation, a “durag,” a “do-rag,” a “wave cap,” a “watchu rag,” or a “head wrap.” In addition, the term headpiece is intended to encompass a functionally equivalent embodiment of a skullcap including, without limitation, a beanie, a skully, a bandana, a headband, a hood, or a kerchief. Headpieces in accordance with the embodiments herein may provide protection for a wearer's head against environmental nuisances and pests using an anterior headpiece portion. A headpiece can include a posterior headpiece portion, such as a tail, flap, or curtain, which also may provide similar protection for a wearer's neck, and perhaps a portion of the wearer's back. The posterior portion may be unitary, or may be subdivided, in part or in toto, into two or more subportions. In some embodiments, an appendage, such as one or more ribbons, strips, threads, or strands may form at least a portion of the tail, flap, or curtain, from which such posterior headpiece appendage depends. In other embodiments, one or more posterior headpiece appendages may depend from respective one or more ribbons, strips, threads, or strands. In yet other embodiments, one or more posterior headpiece appendages may be attached to, and depend from, the anterior headpiece portion, forming the posterior headpiece portion. Posterior headpiece appendages may facilitate wearer comfort by permitting air to circulate around and under portions of the headpiece. When used, a thread or a strip (generally, a strip) can be substantially permanently attached to a headpiece portion, as may be a ribbon. When used, a strand can be releasably attached to a headpiece portion. The posterior headpiece appendages may be free to move, relative to a respective locus of attachment, providing a curtain having a dangling or free-form appearance. However, the posterior headpiece appendages also may be at least partially constrained, for example, by a tieback or a string interconnecting two or more appendages generally distal to respective loci of attachment.

One or both of the anterior headpiece portion or the posterior headpiece portion may bear indicia or graphical illustrations, which may be printed, embossed, screened, appliqued, or otherwise applied, to the material of which the headpiece is made. However, additional modifications to configurability and appearance of present headpiece embodiments may be provided by securing one or more decorative elements, such as ornaments or attachment pieces, to the posterior portion of a headpiece, such as to one or more respective appendages. Although described as an item to be worn on the head, a headpiece also may be worn or attached to other suitably shaped part of the body, or may be used as a decoration or discussion piece, for example, as a wall decoration.

In general, a headpiece of the present embodiments can include an anterior portion and a posterior portion. One or both of the anterior or posterior portions of a headpiece according to the present embodiments, including headpieces 100, 400, and 500, as described with respect to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, respectively, and to FIGS. 2, 3, 6, and 7, generally, may be formed of a wide variety of natural and synthetic materials, including, without limitation, a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, a plastic, a leather, or a combination thereof. One or both of the anterior or posterior portions of a headpiece may be formed of a layered material having respective physical properties, for example and without limitation, a waterproof decorative outer layer, and an absorptive inner layer.

Turning to FIGS. 1-3, headpiece 100 can be embodied as an article of clothing disposed in proximity to head 105 and neck 110 to user 115. In general, headpiece 100 is provided with base 120, as an anterior portion, and flap 130, as at least part of a posterior portion. Base 120 can be formed with foredge 125, and flap 130 may be attached to base 120 generally opposite foredge 125. Headpiece 100 may be constituted of a one panel of material, as may be illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, or may be formed from two or more panels, as may be illustrated by base 220 and flap 230 in FIG. 2, which panels may be made of the same material or may be made of different materials. Attached to flap 130 can be an appendage such as pendent 135, which may be a flexible pendent. Ornament 140 can be captively secured to flexible pendent 135, providing headpiece 100 with a distinctive appearance. Non-limiting examples of ornament 140 include a bead, bangle, trinket, or feather, as well as a small disk, cylinder, charm, button, shell, or gemstone, made of natural, synthetic, or composite materials. Ornament 140 may be given a particular visual characteristic, which may be different from another ornament 140 which may be used. Such a visual characteristic may include a color, shape, size, symbol, graphic design, or a decorative combination thereof. Typically, a plurality of captive ornaments, such as ornament 140, may be captively secured to flap 130, for example, as ornament train 145. Also, flexible pendent curtain 150 may be constituted of a plurality of proximately arranged ornament trains, such as ornament train 145. In certain selected embodiments, ornament 140 can be a bead, and ornament train 145 can be a bead train. Pendent curtain 150 may be disposed in proximity to neck 110, but also may be disposed further caudally, e.g., over the upper back 170 of user 115. Pendants or other extensions can be chosen so as to increase ventilation over a generally single piece of material hanging behind the wearer.

In certain embodiments, flap 130 can be a provided as a unitary flap. However, in other embodiments, a portion of flap 130, distal to the attachment of base 120, may be divided into two or more ribbons 155. At least one bead train 145 may be disposed on one or more ribbons 155 to form pendent curtain 150, although one or more ribbons 155 may be disposed with a single ornament, or with no ornament, for example, to provide a predetermined visual impression. In certain ones of present embodiments of headpiece 100, selected ones of captive ornaments 140 may be visually different from selected others of captive ornaments 140, and may be selectively arranged such that pendent curtain 150 provides a display to a party viewing user 115. Such a display may be fanciful or may be indicative of predetermined display of affinity, affiliation, symbolism, rank, identification, status, or religious or socio-political commitment. Thus, in a non-limiting example of a display of pendent curtain 150, ones of captive ornaments 140 may be colored beads selectively arranged, relative to others of captive ornaments 140, to display a sports team, school, entertainment entity, or corporate symbol or logo, with which user 115 may have an affiliation or affinity. In addition, a mixture of ornament types may create a more visually evocative presentation to the display of curtain 150. For example, an ornament a trinket or small disk bearing a sports team, school, entertainment entity, or corporate symbol or logo may be substituted for, or interspersed with, beads having coloration associated with a corresponding sports team, school, entertainment entity, or corporation. In still other embodiments of headpiece 100, flap 130 may be releasably attached to base 120. Also, one or more of ribbons 155 may be provided as one or more strands releasably attached to flap 130. In addition, one or more ornament trains 145 may be releasably attached to a respective one or more releasably attached strands. Releasably attached strands or ornament trains, or both, may permit a wider range of customization of headpiece 100.

Embodiments of headpiece also may include tie 160 attached a portion of base 120. Tie 160 may be made from a material that is similar to the material or materials from which base 120 and flap 130 are made. An embodiment of headpiece 100 may be fabricated such that base 120 and tie 160 are formed from a single panel of material. Another embodiment of headpiece 100 may be fabricated such that base 120, flap 130, and tie 160 are formed from a single panel of material. Tie 160 can be made sufficiently long and shaped to accommodate a variety of securing techniques by user 115, for example, by the knotting the tie ends after wrapping tie 160 around head 105. When included, tie 160 may be tied around base 120 and knotted atop flap 130, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3-6, or tied around base 120 and knotted atop head 105 but beneath flap 230 and flap 130, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, respectively. In some embodiments of headpiece 100, the shape of base 120 can substantially conform to an upper portion of head 105 and, an embodiment of base 120 may be at least partially fabricated of, or include therein, elastic or resilient material.

In other embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 4, headpiece 400 can be an article of headware for a user (e.g., user 115 in FIG. 1) that includes cap segment 410, tail 420, and a plurality of attachment pieces 430. Cap segment 410 can have a front and a back 415. The shape of cap segment 410 can substantially cover the user's head (not shown). Tail 420 can be in communication with cap segment 410, and may be configured to cover a portion of the user's neck (not shown). Cap segment 410 and tail 420 may be formed from one or more panels of material. Alternatively, cap segment 410 and tail 420 may be formed of one panel of material. In addition, tail 420 can include at least one strip 425 of a predetermined strip length, with attachment pieces 430 being secured thereto. Attachment pieces 430 may be secured selectively, or substantially, over the length of strip 425. Each of attachment pieces may be similar to ornament 140 or ornament train 145, as described with respect to FIG. 1. Alternatively, tail 420 may include a plurality of strips 425, each of which having a respective predetermined strip length, which may be similar to, or different than, others of strips 425. One or more of strips 425 may have attachment pieces 430 secured selectively, or substantially, over the length of the respective strips 425. For example, in some embodiments in which attachment pieces 430 are beads, the beads may secured selectively, or substantially, over the length of the respective strips 425. Also, in other embodiments in which some attachment pieces 430 are beads, other attachment pieces 430 may be at least one of a trinket or a bangle or a feather, which may be strung selectively on respective strips 425, relative to the beads.

In such embodiments, attachments pieces 430 may be similar to ornament train 145 or, in the aggregate, pendent chain 150, also as described with respect to FIG. 1. In embodiments of headpiece 400, at least one of the attachment pieces 430 can be a bead, or a bangle, or a trinket, or a feather, or a combination thereof. In certain ones of present embodiments of headpiece 400, selected ones of attachment pieces 430 may be visually different from selected others of attachment pieces 430, and may be selectively arranged such that the aggregate of the plurality of strips 425 and the plurality of attachment pieces 430 provides a display to a party viewing headpiece within a visually perceivable range. Similar to headpiece 100, headpiece 400 may be provided with a mixture of attachment piece types to create a more visually evocative presentation to the display. For example, an ornament a trinket or small disk bearing a sports team, school, entertainment entity, or corporate symbol or logo may be substituted for, or interspersed with, beads having coloration associated with a corresponding sports team, school, entertainment entity, or corporation.

In still other embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 5, headpiece 500 can be headgear including head cover 510 and curtain 530. Head cover 510 can be shaped to substantially cover a head (not shown), and have a front and a back 515. In selected ones of headpiece 500 embodiments, curtain 530 can be releasably attached to the back 515 of head cover 510, for example, to be disposed in proximity to the wearer's head and neck (not shown). In certain others of headpiece 500 embodiments, tail piece 520 may be releasably interposed between head cover 510 and curtain 530. Curtain 530 may include a plurality of strands 525, which may be releasably attached to back 515 of head cover 510 or, when interposed therebetween, which may be releasably attached to tail piece 520. A plurality of attachment pieces 540 may be secured to selected ones of the plurality of strands 525, with attachment pieces 540 being functionally similar to ornament train 145 in FIG. 1, and attachment pieces 430 in FIG. 4. In addition, curtain 530 may be functionally similar to pendent curtain 150, described with respect to FIG. 1. Also similar to headpieces 100 and 400, head cover 510 and tail piece 520 of headpiece 500 may be made of a material selected from the group of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, plastic, and leather. Each of head cover 510 and tail piece 520 may be fabricated from one or more panels of materials, or may be fabricated from one panel of material.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one, or more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two, or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as “comprising” (i.e., open language). The term “attached”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. 

1. An article of headwear for a user having a head and a neck, comprising: a cap segment having a front and a back, wherein the shape of the cap substantially covers the head; a tail in communication with the back of the cap segment, the tail being configured to cover a portion of the neck, wherein the tail includes at least one strip; and a plurality of attachment pieces secured to the at least one strip.
 2. The article of headwear of claim 1, wherein at least one the cap segment and the tail is made of a material selected from the group of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, plastic, and leather.
 3. The article of headwear of claim 2, wherein the cap segment and the tail are formed from one panel of material.
 4. The article of headwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of attachment pieces comprises a bead.
 5. The article of headwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of attachment pieces comprises a bangle or a trinket.
 6. The article of headwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of attachment pieces comprises a feather.
 7. The article of headwear of claim 1, wherein the tail includes a plurality of strips and the plurality of attachment pieces are selectively secured to the plurality of strips.
 8. The article of headwear of claim 3, wherein the tail includes a plurality of strips, wherein the plurality of attachment pieces are selectively secured to the plurality of strips, wherein each strip has a strip length, wherein selected ones of the plurality of attachment pieces are beads, and wherein the beads are strung selectively over the strip length.
 9. The article of headwear of claim 4, wherein the strip has a strip length, wherein selected ones of the plurality of attachment pieces are beads, and wherein the beads are strung substantially over the strip length.
 10. The article of headwear of claim 7, wherein the plurality of attachment pieces are selectively secured to the plurality of strips, wherein each strip has a strip length, wherein selected ones of the plurality of attachment pieces are beads, and wherein the beads are strung selectively over the respective strip length.
 11. The article of headwear of claim 7, wherein the plurality of attachment pieces are selectively secured to the plurality of strips, wherein each strip has a strip length, wherein selected others of the plurality of attachment pieces are trinkets, and wherein the trinkets are strung selectively over the respective strip length.
 12. The article of headwear of claim 10, wherein selected others of the plurality of attachment pieces are at least one of a trinket or a bangle or a feather, and wherein the at least one of a trinket or a bangle or a feather are strung selectively relative to the beads.
 13. Headgear, comprising: a headpiece having a front and a back, wherein the shape of the headpiece substantially covers a head; a curtain releasably attached to the back of the headpiece, wherein the curtain includes a plurality of flexible releasable strands; and a plurality of attachment pieces secured to selected ones of the plurality of flexible strands.
 14. The headgear of claim 13, further comprising: a tail piece releasably interposed between the headpiece and the curtain.
 15. The headgear of claim 13, wherein the headpiece is made of a material selected from the group of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, plastic, and leather.
 16. The headgear of claim 14, wherein the tail piece is made of a material selected from the group of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, plastic, and leather.
 17. The headgear of claim 13, wherein the plurality of attachment pieces are selectively secured to the plurality of flexible strands, wherein each strand has a strand length, wherein selected ones of the plurality of attachment pieces are beads, and wherein the beads are strung selectively over the respective strand length.
 18. An article of clothing, comprising a base having a foredge; a tie attached to a portion of the base; a flap attached to the base generally opposite the foredge and having a flexible pendent, wherein the flexible pendent includes at least one captive ornament.
 19. The article of clothing of claim 18, wherein the flap comprises a plurality of flexible pendents.
 20. The article of clothing of claim 18, wherein the flexible pendent comprises a plurality of captive ornaments.
 21. The article of clothing of claim 19, wherein a selected flexible pendent comprises a plurality of captive ornaments.
 22. The article of clothing of claim 18, wherein the flap is releasably attached to the base.
 23. The article of clothing of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of flexible pendents forming a flexible pendent curtain, wherein each of the plurality of flexible pendents includes a plurality of captive ornaments, and wherein a first selected captive ornament is visually different from a second selected captive ornament.
 24. The article of clothing of claim 18, wherein the flap comprises a plurality of flexible pendents releasably attached to the flap, wherein each of the plurality of flexible pendents includes a plurality of captive ornaments selectively attached to respective ones of the plurality of flexible pendents.
 25. The article of clothing of claim 23, wherein the flexible pendent curtain comprises a plurality of captive ornaments, wherein selected ones of the captive ornaments are visually different from selected others of the captive ornaments, and wherein the selected ones are arranged relative to the selected others as a display.
 25. The article of clothing of claim 24, wherein the flexible pendent curtain comprises a plurality of captive ornaments, wherein selected ones of the captive ornaments are visually different from selected others of the captive ornaments, and wherein the selected ones are arranged relative to the selected others as a selectable display.
 26. The article of clothing of claim 23, wherein a selected captive ornament is a bead.
 27. The article of clothing of claim 23, wherein a selected captive ornament is a trinket.
 28. The article of clothing of claim 23, wherein a selected captive ornament is a feather.
 29. The article of clothing of claim 25, wherein the shape of the base conforms to an upper portion of a head, and wherein the flexible pendent curtain is disposed in proximity to a neck.
 30. The article of clothing of claim 26, wherein another selected captive ornament is a trinket.
 31. A skullcap, comprising: an anterior headpiece portion having a front and a back, wherein the shape of the anterior headpiece portion covers a portion of a head; at least one thread attached to the back of the anterior headpiece portion; and at least one captive ornament secured to the at least one thread.
 32. The skullcap of claim 31, further comprising: a plurality of threads attached to the back of the anterior headpiece portion; and a plurality of captive ornaments selectively secured to the plurality of threads, wherein a respective plurality of captive ornaments is selectively secured to a respective one of the plurality of threads to form a respective ornament train, and wherein a plurality of ornament trains forms an ornament curtain.
 33. The skullcap of claim 32, further comprising: a tail flap attached between the anterior headpiece portion and the ornament curtain.
 34. The skullcap of claim 33, wherein at least a portion of the tail flap further comprises: a plurality of ribbons to which respective ornament trains are secured. 